Turbine Wheel Assembly with Segmented Weight Ring for Adjustable Vibrator Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary vibrators face challenges in adjusting output force without changing the housing or relocating mounting holes, as the initial material testing may not accurately represent the actual material properties, leading to insufficient or excessive force for material flow in bins or hoppers.
Innovation Solution
A turbine wheel assembly with a segmented weight ring assembly that allows incremental adjustments to output force by controlling the proportion of heavy and lightweight material segments, enabling removable retention on a vibrator shaft without altering the housing or outside diameter, and can be pre-assembled or assembled in the field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the output force of the vibrator is increased to ensure material flow, then the material flow reliability is improved, but the bin or hopper may be damaged by stress fractures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by allowing adjustment of the weight ring assembly's mass distribution through interchangeable segments of different densities. This enables precise tuning of the vibrator's output force to match the specific material properties and flow requirements, preventing both insufficient flow and excessive force that could damage the bin or hopper.
Solution Approach 2:
The weight ring assembly is segmented into multiple interchangeable segments with different mass densities. This segmentation allows the user to configure the total mass and mass distribution according to the specific application requirements, enabling fine control over the output force to avoid damaging the bin or hopper while ensuring adequate material flow.
2Force
If a different model of vibrator is selected to adjust output force, then the force output can be matched to material properties, but the housing and mounting holes must be relocated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the weight ring assembly adjustable and reconfigurable through interchangeable segments. This allows the output force to be dynamically adapted to different material properties without changing the vibrator model or housing, maintaining a fixed mounting configuration while achieving the desired force output through internal mass adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibrator housing and mounting structure are designed to be universal and fixed, while the internal weight ring assembly provides the adaptability needed for different force requirements. This multi-functionality allows a single vibrator model to serve multiple applications with different material properties without requiring housing relocation or mounting changes.
3Force
If the weight ring assembly mass is increased to increase output force, then the force output is improved, but the turbine wheel assembly becomes heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by allowing adjustment of the weight ring assembly's mass through interchangeable segments. Users can select segments with different mass densities to achieve the precise output force needed, avoiding the need to increase mass beyond what is necessary. This enables force optimization without unnecessary weight increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The weight ring assembly uses composite construction with segments of different mass densities that can be interchanged. This allows the system to achieve the required output force using only the necessary mass, rather than uniformly increasing the entire assembly's weight. The composite approach enables precise mass tuning to match force requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for a turbine wheel assembly for a pneumatic rotary vibrator that provides a selectable force output while being removably retained on a vibrator shaft member. The turbine wheel assembly is mounted inside of a generally circular interior chamber of a pneumatic vibrator housing. The turbine wheel assembly includes: (1) a turbine ring that has an outside diameter, an inside diameter and a face width, (2) a sleeve member that is round and tubular, (3) an intermediate weight ring assembly that has an outer circumference, an inner circumference, and a predetermined face width, The weight ring assembly is formed by a plurality of wedge shaped segments. The plurality of wedge shaped segments include a predetermined quantity of heavy material segments and light material segments and by controlling the proportion of the total mass of the heavy material segments with respect to the total mass of the light weight material segments in the weight ring assembly will control the output force of a single model of the pneumatic vibrator.